Government Schemes for Students and Youth (2026)
18 schemes · central & state · official links
Data last verified against official sources:
These are the government schemes tracked on Nagarik that students & youth can use: school meals, scholarships and girls’ education, internships, skill training and stipends. 10 are central schemes that apply across India and 8 are run by state governments. Each scheme links to its own page with eligibility, status and the official website. Apply only on official government portals; you do not need an agent.
Central government schemes
| Scheme | Run by | What it offers | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) | Government of India | Centrally sponsored scheme providing one hot cooked meal to children in Classes I–VIII of government and government-aided schools, with an extension to pre-primary (Bal Vatika) classes. | pmposhan.education.gov.in ↗ |
| Samagra Shiksha | Government of India | Integrated school education scheme from pre-school to Class 12. | dsel-education.gov.in ↗ |
| PM SHRI Schools | Government of India | 14,500 central/state government schools upgraded as PM Schools for Rising India (SHRI) — model institutions for NEP 2020 implementation with modern infrastructure and lab facilities. | pmshrischools.education.gov.in ↗ |
| NIPUN Bharat (Foundational Literacy) | Government of India | National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN): ensuring all children in Grades 1–3 can read and do basic arithmetic by Grade 3. | nipunbharat.education.gov.in ↗ |
| SWAYAM 2.0 (Online Courses) | Government of India | Free online higher education platform offering MOOCs from central universities and IITs. | swayam.gov.in ↗ |
| PM Internship Scheme | Government of India | Twelve-month internships in companies for young people, with a monthly stipend and one-time grant. | pminternship.mca.gov.in ↗ |
| Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) | Government of India | Short-term skill training and certification scheme for youth, including recognition of prior learning for people already working. | skillindiadigital.gov.in ↗ |
| Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) | Government of India | Placement-linked skill training for rural youth from poor families, run by the Ministry of Rural Development under DAY-NRLM. | kaushal.dord.gov.in ↗ |
| PM DAKSH Scheme | Government of India | PM DAKSHta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi scheme providing free short-term and long-term skill training to marginalised communities (SC, OBC, EBC, Safai Karamcharis, De-notified Tribes). | pmdaksh.dosje.gov.in ↗ |
| National Service Scheme (NSS) | Government of India | Volunteer community-service programme for college and senior-secondary students, run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. | nss.gov.in ↗ |
State government schemes
| Scheme | Run by | What it offers | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanyashree Prakalpa | West Bengal | Conditional cash transfer for girl children to encourage school retention and delay marriage. | wbkanyashree.gov.in ↗ |
| Ladli Laxmi Yojana | Madhya Pradesh | Scheme for girls born to eligible resident families: an assurance certificate at registration, scholarships at Classes 6, 9, 11 and 12, and a final payment at age 21. | ladlilaxmi.mp.gov.in ↗ |
| Naan Mudhalvan | Tamil Nadu | Renamed 'Skill Development' by the Tamil Nadu government (announced 22 Jun 2026); the scheme continues, and naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in now redirects to skilldevelopment.tn.gov.in. | naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in ↗ |
| Yuva Nidhi — Youth Stipend | Karnataka | Unemployment stipend for degree and diploma graduates in Karnataka who are registered with the Employment Exchange and actively seeking work. | sevasindhugs.karnataka.gov.in ↗ |
| Mukhya Mantri Seekho Kamao Yojana | Madhya Pradesh | Skill training programme linking MP youth aged 18–29 with registered industry partners. | mmsky.mp.gov.in ↗ |
| Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme | Bihar | Collateral-free education loan up to ₹4 lakh for Bihar students pursuing degree courses after Class 12. | 7nishchay-yuvaupmission.bihar.gov.in ↗ |
| AP Skill Development | Andhra Pradesh | Industry-linked skills training to prepare youth for employment in manufacturing, IT, and services. | apssdc.in ↗ |
| Schools of Eminence | Punjab | 117 government schools across all Punjab districts selected for infrastructure and facility upgrades. | ssapunjab.org ↗ |
Schemes for others
Frequently asked questions
Which government schemes are there for students & youth in India?
Schemes tracked on Nagarik include Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI Schools, NIPUN Bharat (Foundational Literacy), SWAYAM 2.0 (Online Courses), PM Internship Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).
Which central government schemes are for students & youth?
Central schemes include Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI Schools, NIPUN Bharat (Foundational Literacy), SWAYAM 2.0 (Online Courses), PM Internship Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).
Where can I apply?
Apply only on the official portal of each scheme. For example: PM Internship Scheme (pminternship.mca.gov.in); Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) (skillindiadigital.gov.in); PM DAKSH Scheme (pmdaksh.dosje.gov.in); Kanyashree Prakalpa (wbkanyashree.gov.in).